Improvement in rotary engines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN ROTARY ENGINES.

Specification forming part ofLctters Patent No. 55,301, dated June 5, 1866.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT HUGHES, of Dan gerlielt'l, Titus county, State ot' Texas, have invented an Improved Rotary Engine; and I do hereby declare the following to be an exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part ot` this specification, in which- Figure I represents a vertical cross-section; Fig. 2, a sectional side elevation, showing the valves and escape; Fig. 3, 4an opposite sectional side elevation, showing the feed-channel and ccnter-heat-I; Fig. 4, a perspective view of the valve.

The nature ot' my invention consists in a y center head with steam or air channels and valves in a valve-box.

A represents the trame that supports the engine; B, the stationary axis in which the steam enters at one end and escapes at the opposite end at O, as shown by the arrows passing through the channels D; E, the stationary head o'r abutment, which is located permanently on the stationary axle B, the head heilig circular, with a cur/ved or cani point, G, projecting in a curve from the periphery ct' the head, that may either be solid with the center E or attached by a iirm joint, if necessary to be packed, the point at H being curved to tit the circle or concave side of the cylinder or revolving wheel, J. There are two valveboxesopposite each other, with a halve, K,

operating in each box L.

The valve K has a long groove, M, across the center oil one side, and an incline-shaped head, N, at top, sloping upward, to allow the steam topass up, press upon the head, and force the valve K down, the head projecting in a square or angular-shaped side, l), to iill the box, while the valve K does not entirely till the box, and the corresponding square or angular-shaped projection Q, at the lower side ot' the box, with l), forms a chamber, It, with apertures S, that prevent a vacuum when the valve K rises, or any resistance from compressed steam or air as the valve is forced down.

The steam enters the axis at B, and passes through the channel D at 011e side ofthe center ot' the head E, andas it reaches the groove M it passes up the groove and upon the head ofthe valve K, forcing the valve down upon the center head, E, until the steam escapes, propellin g the cylinder around more than half the distance of its circumference, where thevalve reaches the escape-channel D2, when the lvalve falls back into its box L, it' not by its gravitation, will be forced into the box by the curved back ot' the cam G.

At'terone valve has thus passed half around the opposite valve takes it place and operates the same as the former. When the engine is running and the second valve is past the point of the cam the first one comes in contact with another channel, T, which has a checkvalve at its receiving-oriliee, through which the steam passes along the axis B and through a pipe intended to connect with a separate reservoir, until it forms an equilibrium, when the check-valve closes, and by means ot' which I utilize a large amount ot' steam and nearly one-fourth ot' the power ot' the engine to propel other machinery'.

There is also an aperture or an escape, U, near the back of the cam, that likewise connects with the escape-channel D2 through the axis. 4

The sides ot' the valves Koperate in grooves V as guides in the outside plates ot' the cylinde-r, and the radial stays W strengthen the cylinder, or may be used as arms for a wheel.

I intend to operate this engine by steam, wa`ter, or air, as an engine, pump, or blower, and I make the cylinder revolve and the axis and center head stationary, and it may be. operated either vertically or horizontally, and the escapes may be made at any or all points back ofthe center of the cylinder to the top of the back ot the cam. y

What `I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The construction ot' the stationary ceu` ter head, E, with curved point G, and its steamchannels D and T, as herein described.

2. The construction ofthe valves K, arranged in the valve-box L, as herein described.

3. The arrangement and combination of the valves K, center head, E, cam G, and channels D and T, to operate in a cylinder as a rotary engine, whereby to utilize the exhaust-steam and operate other machinery, as herein set forth.

EoBEE'r HUGHES.

Witnesses: I J. FRANKLIN REIGART, W. H. NoBLEs. 

